Has It Been That Long?

Has it been that long since I last posted a blog? Yes it has. I've been doing life and enjoying it to the fullest. So much has changed since I last blogged. One thing that hasn't changed is love. Especially, love that comes from family.

Autumn season of 2013 was amazing here on the home front. Our youngest son finished his time overseas serving at his first duty. I still can't believe at the young age of 18 he was on a plane to South Korea for a year serving his country. A year! A year without seeing him sitting across the dinner table or cutting slivers of cake until it was all gone. He came back to the states in November. During his time here, he spoiled us! All of us. Now he is stationed far from home, but at least he is in America.

Some things never change. Our sons still want to wrestle Dad when they come home.

Just when we thought things were starting to settle, our daughter in-love went into labor. It was a long labor. That labor of love produced our third grandbaby. I applaud my son's bride. She went through labor and delivery without my son. My son was deployed during the time of his baby's birth. Thanks to technology, he was able to witness the his first child being born. I really appreciate them so much. They are really good about sending videos and photos of the baby.

Photo Courtesy of Port City Photography

Our two other grandbabies are growing up so fast. They are doing wonderful. The oldest, he's so polite and loves taking care of his little brother. The youngest is now wearing glasses. I miss the so much! It's been one year and two months since I've seen them. I'm hoping to see them soon.

Each day, I still hang out at the kitchen table with her...I love homeschooling her. She's so much fun to hang out with. She's getting ready for track season that starts next week. She got a spot on the Girls Varsity Cross Country team. The team went to state and came in fourth place.

In the midst of things, I've managed to lose 30 pounds! I feel great. I've dropped four dress sizes. On Valentine's Day, I revealed myself in a little back dress. I was nervous at first, but it fit. We had a blast at the Sweetheart Banquet.

A long time ago, an older woman gave me some valuable advice. She encouraged me to never let the spark go out of my marriage. So glad I listened. We are more in love today than we were yesterday. In a matter of years, our nest will be empty...Our love for each other will always be full.

18 Down and Many More to Go

In May of this year I starting thinking about getting healthy. So on June 1, 2013, I started a journey of healthy eating and exercising. I dare not say how much I weighed at the beginning. Not even my husband knows.

On September 24, I went to the doctor and got on the scale. I was so nervous. I'd started exercising and eating more healthier. Since I purposely don't have a scale at home, I really didn't know if I had lost anything. My clothes felt really comfortable though. To my surprise I'd lost 18 pounds! I was so excited that I posted a photo on Facebook while sitting in the exam room waiting for my doctor.

On October 15, my husband took a full body shot of me while we were waiting for our daughter to run her Cross Country meet. I'm not a fan of body shots, but I was happy to see this one.

 

I'm not sure how much weight I want to lose. I will share more about my journey as time permits. However, I do know that I want to be healthy. Being healthy looks different for each person. I want to encourage you to find a "healthier you" in the midst of serving your family.

Not Withholding Good

Summer is over. I have mixed feelings about it. Mainly because I love my husband's work schedule during the Summer months and I love eating watermelon on a daily basis. Slowly, I'm starting to get back into the swing of a set schedule as I eagerly await for Autumn to officially arrive.

Homeschooling if off to a great start. Our youngest and only child at home has entered her Sophomore year of high school. Where has time gone?...Although being a homeschooler, she's running Cross Country for the local public school that we are zoned for. Their girls Cross Country team is #3 in our state. She had her first invitational meet last Saturday.

As my husband and I were driving up to watch her run, I keep reflecting on something recently I read in Proverbs. Our church has small groups. I purposefully chose to attend the small group with older women. I love to glean from them and from a Biblical stance, I strongly believe in the Titus 2 mandate. So, each week I have the privilege of spending time with a group of older women. Currently we are studying the book of Proverbs. Specifically, the Proverbs 31 woman.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 

when it is in the power of your hands to do so." 

-Proverbs 3:27

That passage of Scripture stood out to me like a neon blinking off and on. The word "good" got my attention.

As I sat in the passenger seat looking at the beauty of the leaves turning orange with spots of crisp yellow burnt leaves in the midst of tall evergreen trees, I looked at my husband wondering if I'm doing "good" when it comes to him and not withholding anything good. He's so low maintenance. He says he only needs two things. One is a sandwich and you know what number two is.

So I asked myself these questions:
1) Am I doing good by preparing meals that he enjoys and satisfy his hunger?
2) Am I doing good by being the best lover that I can be and fulfilling his sexual needs?

To him, these are good things that he desires to have. For me, the power is in me to do them. After all, Proverbs 31:12 says, "She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."

Shabby Apple Giveaway Winner

Thank you to all my readers who entered the Shabby Apple giveaway. 

The names have been added of those who entered.

Please ignore the size of the hand that's in the jar. Haha!

The winner is...*Drumroll please*

TMichelle please contact me via email so that we can arrange for you to receive your Vintage Clothing piece from Shabby Apple.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

TMichelle chose "Cut the Cake" dress like the one shown in this picture. Please visit Shabby Apple at http://www.shabbyapple.com/ for more information about this dress or other Vintage Clothing.

Shabby Apple Vintage Clothing Giveaway

Ever After

I have some exciting news for you! If you're like me and love anything Vintage, then this is the perfect giveaway for you. I was contacted by Shabby Apple to give my readers a chance to win a piece of Vintage Clothing  to add to your wardrobe.

Save the Date

The giveaway starts Monday, July 15th at 6:00am (PST). You have until the following Monday, July 22nd at 6:00am (PST) to enter. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 22nd by 12:00pm (PST).

Cut the Cake

If you would like to enter the Vintage Clothing giveaway from Shabby Apple, please leave a comment here on this post.

At Last

Myself, along with Shabby Apple would like to thank you for entering this giveaway. After you enter the giveaway, make sure you come back on Monday, July 22nd, to see if your name was drawn. We will give the winner 24 hours to claim their prize. If the winner does not claim their within that time frame, another winner will be chosen.

Together Forever

I'm so excited about this giveaway. I look forward to saying "Congratulations!" to the winner. That winner can be you. The only way to find out is by entering the giveaway.

Moon River

The winner will have the option of choosing from one of the dresses from the photographs above. I also want to encourage you to shop Shabby Apple. Personally, I love their selection of modest, stylish, vintage clothing.

Sincerely,
Sandra King

*I was not compensated in any form to promote advertisement for Shabby Apple.
*This giveaway is not available for my international readers, but forward this giveaway to your friends in the United States.

My Journey to Simplicity Has Just Become Simpler

I did it! I went 7 days wearing only 7 pieces of clothing. I can't say that it was hard. In some ways it was, but in others, not so much. The word that's most fitting is funny with the "LOL" in caps. There were a few funny moments that I dare not share publicly. None the less, it was surely a journey that I will never forget.

I did however, learn something about myself. It had nothing to do with clothes, but everything to do with something material that up until 3 years ago I didn't have. It's my laptop. Or should I say was my laptop.

For years I longed to have my own laptop. I would literally dream about the things I could do with my laptop. For years I shared a desktop with the children and occasionally with my husband when he got on two or three times a year. One day, my dream came true.

I still remember the day bringing her home. Yes, her, because I called her "my little girl". She was mine. Everybody knew that she was mine. She was such a part of me that I gave her a name. I named her Tilly. I went so far as to add her as a daughter on my Facebook profile. I know by now you're shaking your head wondering if I had my head examined recently. Rest assure, my head is fine; well, as least that's what I've told myself for years (ha ha).

I've been longing for simplicity and carry out my commitments to the book "7" by: Jen Hatmaker. What I didn't know that my journey to simplicity would entail learning a valuable lesson about myself. You see, I had not died to self (me) the way that I thought I had. It wasn't until some material thing that was so precious to be was no longer there. Soon after, I heard something. Or should I say Someone.

"I'm all that you need Sandra. When you have Me, you have everything."

I wanted a simple life. I wanted to rid myself of excess. I wanted this journey to open my eyes to me and the things deep within me. That's exactly what He did and exactly what He's doing. He's making my life simple...

In recent days I've been reminiscing about the early days of my children's live. The days before I had a computer at all. Those days were so sweet and full of peace. We got up. We ate. We "played" school, but I was really homeschooling; I didn't know it then. I remember the days when I had no idea what was going on in the world because we didn't receive any channels on our television. Those were the days. The days where my stress consisted of a baby teething and why didn't my child eat lunch. I long for those days...

The next journey that I'm going on is a "No Stress" journey. That will be 7 days of no stress. How can that be possible? I'm not sure, but I'm going to find out. For sure that means ridding myself of those things that bring stress. My 7 days of no stress would be easier if I went to Hawaii, but I'm not. I'll let you know how it goes. Not sure when I'll be back on. I'm at the library and my session is about to expire. Until then, take care my friends.

Oh, before I forget, I gave away 7 pieces of clothing.

Unplugged: 7 Days of Wearing 7 Pieces of Clothing, Day 1

My outfit for the next 7 days...

It's only day 1 on my journey to wearing 7 pieces of clothing for 7 days. Yes, the same 7 pieces. I've been teary-eyed most of the day. I got teary-eyed the first time when I realized it was either a jacket or another piece of clothing.

Why did I get so emotional over a simple jacket? Well, because some people don't have the luxury of owning a jacket and I own several. It was at that moment that I chose to go without the jacket.

Five black skirts...Really Sandra?...Excess!

Afterward, I spent most of the afternoon sorting through clothes and transitioning for the warmer months. I put clothes in piles according to colors, prints, ect. I looked over at the pile of black skirts and I cried again.

"Will I ever stop crying?" That's the question that keeps pondering in the back of my mind...

It was then that I knew God was doing something in my heart. My 101 questionnaire interview with God started. Yes, it was like I was interviewing Him for the job of being God. It was almost like I was seeing if He was fit to really do it...*big sigh* Of course He is!

Why would I want to stop crying anyway? Why would I even question what He's doing to me while on this this journey?

I'm one of those Christians who always say, "I trust you Lord!" If that's the case why all the questions. Perhaps, it's because I trust Him when I still have some control in a sense. I've decided to let God lead me on this journey. I need to let go and follow...

I'll be back next week to tell you how my journey goes this week. This is my heartsong for the week...